Hacking Non Profits - JFDI - Eric Hanley

Disclaimer:

This article is written solely by Eric Hanley and does not express the views of anyone but him. If you would like to collaborate on this article please get express permission by Eric and don't JFDI.

Why I'm Writing This Article

I've had the pleasure of working with lots of volunteer based organizations. They are beautiful organic organizations full of color and growth. One of my favorite things about them is even the newest members can make a big different if they know what to do. This article is intended to help those new members accomplish something.

Rhetoric in General

When trying to organize groups it is often necessary to state things in general terms. Quite often these statements will deal with the idea "we should do".

Authority, Identity, and Responsibility

With volunteer based organizations, program direction and responsibility is often ambiguous and really up to whoever takes up the cause. This ambiguous responsibility is wonderful because brand new volunteer can really make a measurable difference in an organization, but ambiguous responsibility is difficult because the ball frequently gets dropped with no one to be held responsible. This is the inherent structure of Volunteer Based Organizations.

And Who Are You?

• Volunteer Equality
• Be Not Exclusive

Direction and Opposition

• Know Yourself
  • Be Sure of Your Mission
  • Be Nice
• Social Energy and Harnessing It
  • Give Followers a Mission
  • Turn Enemies Into Friends
  • Else FYN/FYTN

Sustainability and Documentation

Turnover Files

• Responsibilities (should be in By-Laws if applicable)
• Rosters (Whose Who in the Zoo)
• Work Instructions

Help People

Be Personal

People have problems. Ask a person directly what their problem is in a helping way and you'll often glean new information and a new perspective. You may even make a new friend.

Methods of Motivation

• Friends Helping a Friends
• Incentive Rewards
• Threaten with Litigation
  • By-Laws

Volunteer Based Organizations I've Worked With

• Bridges to Digital Excellence BDE - 2011 - current
• Pumping Station: One PS1 - 2009,2011 - current